Incentive savings bank



w. w. RANDALL EIAL 3,181,781

INCENTIVE SAVINGS BANK May 4, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet. 1

Filed May 10, 1963 ATTORN Y INVENTOR JULIA RUBEN-STEIN JANE '5 F. FULT WILBUR I. RANDALL United States Patent 3,181,781 [NCENTIVE SAVINGS BANK Wilbur W. Randall, 747 N. Main St, West Hartford,

Conn., and Julia Rubenstein, New York, and James F.

Fulton, Mamaroneck, N.Y., assignors, by direct and mesne assignments, to said Randall Filed May 10, 1963, Ser. No. 279,570 4 Claims. (Cl. 232) This invention relates to coin type savings banks and more particularly to such banks provided with at least two coin receiving compartments, each allotted to a different individual, one or more of Whom may provide to another an incentive or encouragement to save by matching deposits, coin-for-coin, all of which may then become the property of the rewarded person.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved type of incentive savings bank.

More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide in a coin savings bank a compartment for each saver together with mechanism requiring the rewarder to deposit a coin to match that of the principal saver whereby to release the latters coin into his compartment and thus provide a savings incentive. 7

An important object of the present invention is to provide an arrangement of savings compartments at least one of which has a visible coin entry foyer to segregate a coin deposited by the principal saver as a signal to the matcher that it is his turn to make a deposit and so release the first coin into its compartment after which the later 0 deposited coin falls into its own compartment.

Another important object of the present invention resides in the provision of unique mechanism for holding the coin deposited by the saver in the foyer of his coin compartment until released by a coin deposited by the matcher for delivery to the latters compartment.

A' further important object of the present invention resides in an arrangement of an automatic signal system comprising a flag, normally out of sight, which is brought into view by the deposit of a coin by the principal saver and so remains while his coin is in the foyer, and thus acts to remind the matcher to deposit his coin to release the first one which then allows the fiag to disappear.

Other and further features and objects of the present invention will be more apparent to those skilled in the art upon a consideration of the attached specification and appended drawings in which are disclosed exemplary embodiments of the invention with the understanding that such changes and modifications may be made therein as fall Within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In said drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of one embodiment of an incentive savings bank constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation thereof showing one of the coin entry slots;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary transverse vertical section thereof taken on line 3-3 of FIGURE 2, but with the cover section removed, and illustrating the means for holding a coin in the savers compartment foyer, and in dotted lines the action required to release it;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of the bank with the cover section and spring removed to illustrate the spring seat and coin guide in the upper end of the matchers compartment;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary view of the spring showing the reduced end section which supports the savers coin in its foyer;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary side elevation of the body portion of the bank showing the entry slot for the matchers coin and the guide Walls for the coin together with the seats for the spring; and

FIGURES 7 and 8 are fragmentary transverse vertical sections in the plane of the coin slots of a second embodiment of the invention, including signal means to indicate the presence of a coin in the savers foyer, the two views showing successively the entry of the savers coin, and the insertion of the matchers coin for releasing the first coin whereby the signal may return to it's inactive position.

The lessening value of coins (in purchasing power) does not seem to have reduced the demand for coin savings banks, indeed their use as gifts or premiums by various savings institutions, and their sale by drug and other types of chain stores appears to have amplified their usage and increased the requirement for unique features which will contribute to the more rapid accumulation of coins in such banks which might later be deposited with the institutions.

The present invention, illustrated in several unique forms, discloses only two compartments for each bank, one for the primary saver (usually a child) and another for the matcher (usually a parent) who wishes to pro vide an additiozial incentive for the saver by matching his savings, coin-for-coin, but obviously additional pairs of compartments may be provided if desired.

The invention is illustrated in the embodiment of FIGURES 1 to 6 as representative of the functional equipment as well as the unique arrangement of component parts of the bank housing itself, in which the main body portion containing the coin receiving compartments is preferably molded of transparent plastic material, mounted on an enlarged base preferably of some brightly colored opaque plastic, and capped or closed with a cover of like colored opaque material. The cover is positioned by appropriate interfitting parts and an adhesive, and the base is similarly attached, and if desired, is provided with a locked closure door, not shown, for convenience in removing the coins.

The second embodiment, shown in FIGURES 7 and 8, is essentially illustrative of those functional features which differ from the'first form and it will be appreciated that structurally the second embodiment can, if desired, closely follow the first. The primary difference is that in the second embodiment the signal flag arrangement requires insertion of the savers coin through 'a top slot into the foyer which holds the coin in view, although the matchers coin is introduced as in the first form through a side slot. The functional parts requiring coin matchmg are, however, substantially identical in the two embodiments.

Referring now to the first embodiment it will be seen that the bank structure is preferably formed to a suitable columnar shape, the main or body portion 10 of which is molded of suitable transparent plastic material and arranged to be attachedto a base 11 of greater area to insure stability. It is closed at the top by a cap or cover 12 which is essentially hollow. The portions 11 and 12 are preferably of opaque, colored plastic of suitable characteristics and may each be adhesively secured to the central body section with the aid of overlapping and inter-fitting portions as seen, for instance, at 13 in FIGURE 2 at the top, and at 14 in the bottom, where a recess is shown as receiving the lower end of the column. While not shown the bottom section may be fitted with a locked closure door hidden beneath it for removal of coins when desired. f

As-seen in FIGURES 1, 3 and 4 the portion 10 is formed into two parallel coin receiving tubes 15 and: 16, the first. being allotted to the original saver and the second to the incentive contributor who hereinafter will Patented May 4, 1965 3 be referred to as the matcher since he is supposed to match deposits with the saver, coin-for-coin.

The tubes and 16 are sized so that coins of the desired denomination will lie flat and will stack when dropped therein as will be appreciated, and for appearance the front walls of the tubes are fiat and continuous across the front face, better to accommodate the markings indicated in FIGURE 1 and appropriately shown with dollar designations. The rear face of ach tube is substantially semi-cylindrical as seen at 18, and these curved areas merge with the flat side walls 19 and are combined into a common center or dividing wall 29, thus forming the two independent compartments each of which in an elevated portion of its side wall 19 is provided with a vertical slot 21 for the saver and 22 for the matcher, these slots being opposite each other and close to the upward extension 24 of the fiat front wall which projects above the level of the rabbet 25 as best seen in FIGURE 6.

As viewed in this figure the front wall 24, and narrow portions of the side walls 19, of the column section It) is carried substantially above the level of the rabbetted horizontal portion 25 which is received in cap channels. The top section 12 has its front wall 27 cut away to the extent of the height of the slots 21 and 22 to expose transparent wall 24, which is rabbetted at 26 along its top and side edges to inter-fit with the shortened front wall 27 of the cap 12. As seen in FIGURE 2 front wall 27 is of considerably less depth than the rear wall 28 and the corresponding narrowed side walls, which are cutback to the position indicated by the reference character 30 just behind the rear edges of the slots 21 and 22. In this manner the opaque cap closes the top of the column section, exposes extended front wall 24 thereof and provides a chamber above it for purposes to be later described. Connecting front wall 27 of the cap to wall edges 30 are the short horizontal walls 32 defining the cutback which exposes the transparent side wall 24 where it projects above the main body of the column.

The cap 12 has a fore and aft center divider wall 33 seen in FIGURE 1 which reaches down only to the level of the rabbetted area 25 of the column and is notched to fit over 24. The dividing wall 20 between the two tubes in the main body portion is notched down to the level 34, FIGURE 1, just behind wall 24 thereby providing a slot, or passage 35 extending through the dividing wall 20.

A leaf spring 37, FIGURES 1, 3 and 5 is normally configured to be concave, or bowed up and has a reduced end or tongue 38 as seen in FIGURE 5, providing shoulders 39 so that when the tongue 38 is projected through slot 35 from the right of partition 33 the shoulders 39 rest against wall 20 while the remote end of the spring bears against the side and top walls of cap 12 and is prevented from moving toward the left by the depending lug or flange 40 in the cap.

In order to support and guide the spring 37 the inner faces of wall 24 and wall 41, which is spaced behind it by the thickness of slot 22, are cut away to widen the slot to easily receive the width of the spring. The widened slot exists only above the curved surfaces 42 comprising spring seats supporting and conforming the spring to the shape shown in FIGURES 1 and 3. The spring normally rests on these seats and they serve to keep the end 38 thereof from dropping down below the position illustrated in FIGURE 1. The flange 40 keeps the upper end in position in the corner of the cover under all conditions.

It will be seen that the walls 24 and 41, spaced apart at least the width of a coin, guide a coin introduced through slot 22 and prevent it from deviating laterally.

For a like purpose means is provided to guide the coin introduced through slot 21. The wall 24 which extends clear across the column section effectively provides front guidance for such a coin, and a rear wall corresponding in position somewhat to wall 41, instead of being integral with the column section is provided at 44 in the cap section where it extends, as seen in FIGURE 1, to the left from the divider wall 33 over to the left wall of the cap. It is, of course, spaced rearwardly from the front transparent wall a distance slightly greater than the thickness of a coin and forms with that wall and the end 38 of the spring, which projects to the left of the center partition, a foyer into which the savers coin is introduced through slot 21, and held until released. As seen in FIGURE 3, such a coin bearing the number 1 rests on the end of the tongue 38 of the spring, which thereby acts as an obstruction to prevent the coin from falling into tube 15, and against the lower edge of the slot 21 where it will be clearly visible against the dark background of the material of the cap through the clear front wall 24 projecting above the general level of the column section.

Thus, the savers deposited coin is displayed and restrained to remain in the foyer as a signal or Warning to the matcher to introduce his coin of corresponding denomination through slot 22. Such a coin 2 as seen in FIGURE 3 when introduced between the Walls 24 and 41 impinges on the convex underside of the spring 37 and forces the upper end thereof against the flange 40, and the lower end, at the junction with the tongue 38, against the lower edge of wall 33 and the spring is given a reverse inflection, as illustrated in dotted lines in FIGURE 3, which causes the tongue portion, or obstruction 38 to fulcrum about the edge of wall 33 and be withdrawn into the slot 35 which extends below the level of the foyer, as illustrated in dotted lines in FIGURE 3, thereby releasing the savers coin 1 which immediately drops into tube 15 until it rests on the bottom or on previously deposited coins beneath it. Almost immediately coin 2 reaches a position where the flexed spring bearing on it forces it downwardly into tube 16 where it assumes a position corresponding to the coin in tube 15. The spring immediately returns to its normal position and the bank is ready to again receive a savers coin.

The embodiment illustrated in FIGURES 7 and 8 is functionally the same as the embodiment in FIGURES 1 to 6, inclusive, as regards the operation of holding the savers coin in the foyer of the left hand tube until released under the action of a coin inserted through the slot in the right hand tube to change the spring deflection and withdraw the supporting spring tab which holds the coin indicated at A before such insertion and then as at A in the savers foyer. No effort has been made in connection with these figures to show details of construction of the bank, for the additional novel features reside in the use of a signalling device, normally housed and invisible, but elevated and displayed by the insertion of a coin into the savers foyer and held in that condition until the coin is released from this foyer.

Referring now to the figures it will be seen that the cover plate 6% which closes the upper ends of the tubes 61 and 62, respectively, for the saver" and the matcher is shown as substantially flat and provided with a recess 64, above the compartment 62, in which is normally housed a flag or sign plate 65. The left edge of the flag is pivoted at 66 to the cover. The pivot is adjacent the upper surface of the relatively thick flag whereby the latter is so unbalanced when vertical that it will fall by gravity from that position, indicated in dotted lines in FIGURE 7 to the housed position within the recess when unsupported.

Contrary to the construction in the preferred embodiment, the coin slot for the savers compartment is in the cover plate, as shown at 67, extends transversely of the bank and is normally closed by a thin, light weight-lever 68 extending rigidly from the flag and having its upper face in substantially the same plane as the upper face of the flag. Thus, the lever 63 is deflected downwardly, as illustrated in FIGURE 7, when a coin A is inserted. As the coin is moved down to the A position, illustrated in that figure, it comes to rest on the tongue 70 of the spring the F}- of the same character as used in the first embodiment, and its right edge still engages the lower end of the lever 68 which is now pressed against the dividing wall 71 and holds the flag in the upright dotted position illustrated in FIGURE 8 which condition exists as long as the coin is in position A in the foyer.

When the matcher introduces his coin B through the vertically disposed side wall slot '72 into compartment 62 the spring is deflected, as in the first embodiment, the tab 70 is withdrawn into the slot and coin A dropped as shown at A in FIGURE 8 clearing the lever as whereupon the flag 65 falls of its own weight until it is housed in its chamber 64. Obviously the hidden face of the flag may contain appropriate importuning legends, colored signals or the like, soliciting the deposit of a coin by the matcher. As soon as the matcher deposits coin B as seen in FIGURE 8 it deflects the spring tab and permits coin A to fall through position A onto the stack and the sign drops back, hides the legend and the lever 68 closes the slot 67 and, the spring forces coin B into its compartment.

It will be appreciated that the construction shown in FIGURES 7 and 8 can readily be incorporated in the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 1, merely necessitating the transfer of slot 21 to a position in the cover and the arrangements for the flag and lever in the same component.

It will be seen that the several embodiments of the invention provide a bank which is unique in construction and in function, and one which provides unusual incentive for the initial saver because of the requirement for the deposit of a matching coin to insure the release of his into the compartment therefor. Thus, the saver finally achieves twice as much money as he personally saves.

We claim:

1. A savings bank for coins comprising in combination;

a pair of adjacent, parallel, transparent tubes each having a side wall and having a common wall with a passage therein and each sized to stack coins flatwise, a base closing the bottoms of said tubes and adapted to support them vertically, a cover for closing the upper ends of said tubes, two vertical coin entry slots oppositely disposed, one in a side wall of each tube, means narrowing each tube adjacent its slot to prevent lateral coin deflection, a bowed leaf spring in one of said tubes having its convex under side confronting the slot therein and having a short end extending through said passage in said common wall, means fulcruming said spring near the upper edge of said common wall passage and limiting the extension of said short end therethrough, means forming a socket for the remote end of said main portion of said spring adjacent said cover, said short end of said spring normally projecting sufficiently into the other tube to support a coin inserted through the slot therein, the main portion of said spring being so related to the slot in said one of said tubes as to be reversely bent, upon insertion of a coin therethrough, whereby to deflect the short end downwardly in 6 the other tube to release the coin therein to fall into the tube below and to also guide the last inserted coin into the bottom of the one tube.

2. A savings bank for coins of one denomination comviding an obstruction isolating said coin in said vertical transverse position in said foyer from the compartment beneath it, a slot in a side wall of the second tube for receiving a second coin in a vertical position, means positioned to be engaged by said second coin and connected to withdraw said obstruction toward said common wall,

to release the first coin for delivery into the compartment beneath said foyer and means guiding said second coin. into the other compartment, said common wall being provided with a narrow slot which extends below the level of the foyer, a bowed leaf spring having an end narrow enough to pass through said slot to form said coin obstruction, the remainder of the spring being wider and housed in the upper part of the tube Without the foyer, shoulders at the junction of the wide and narrow parts of said spring engaging the common wall to fulcrum said spring at said junction, and said spring remainder having an end engaging the top closure wall to flex said spring to maintain said shoulders substantially engaged with the common wall at the top of said slot at all times.

3. The coin savings bank as defined in claim 2 in which the said spring remainder is concave upwardly when relaxed and said second tube slot being so positioned that a coin pressed therein flexes the spring convex upwardly to move the said narrow end more nearly vertical to release the first coin.

4. The coin savings bank as claimed in claim 3 in which a pair of walls paralleling the sides of the second tube slot guide the second coin to the spring and have concave faces supporting the relaxed spring to hold said shoulders against said common wall.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 774,707 11/ 04 Stephens 23 2-5 891,994 6/08 Hottmann 23255 2,611,468 9/52 Rockola 232-44 X 3,095,139 6/63 Randall et al. 2325 FOREIGN PATENTS 960,040 3 5 7 Germany. 284,844 2/28 Great Britain.

FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner. 

2. A SAVINGS BANK FOR COINS OF ONE DENOMINATION COMPRISING IN COMBINATION; TWO ADJACENT, VERTICALLY DISPOSED PARALLEL TUBES HAVING SIDE WALLS AND BEING CLOSED AT THE BOTTOM TO PROVIDE TWO FLATWISE COIN HOLDING COMPARTMENTS, A COMMON WALL BETWEEN SAID TUBES, A TOP CLOSURE WALL FOR SAID TUBES, A COIN RECEIVING FOYER IN THE UPPER PART OF ONE OF SAID TUBES, A SLOT IN ONE OF SAID WALLS THEREOF ARRANGED TO ADMIT A COIN TO SAID FOYER IN A VERTICAL POSITION TRANSVERSE TO THE SAID COMMON WALL, MEANS PROVIDING AN OBSTRUCTION ISOLATING SAID COIN IN SAID VERTICAL TRANSVERSE POSITION IN SAID FOYER FROM THE COMPARTMENT BENEATH IT, A SLOT IN A SIDE WALL OF THE SECOND TUBE FOR RECEIVING A SECOND COIN IN A VERTICAL POSITION, MEANS POSITIONED TO BE ENGAGED BY SAID SECOND COIN AND CONNECTED TO WITHDRAW SAID OBSTRUCTION TOWARD SAID COMMON WALL TO RELEASE THE FIRST COIN FOR DELIVERY INTO THE COMPARTMENT BENEATH SAID FOYER AND MEANS GUIDING SAID SECOND COIN INTO THE OTHER COMPARTMENT, SAID COMMON WALL BEING PROVIDED WITH A NARROW SLOT WHICH EXTENDS BELOW THE LEVEL OF THE FOYER, A BOWED LEAF SPRING HAVING AN END NARROW ENOUGH TO PASS THROUGH SAID SLOT TO FORM SAID COIN OBSTRUCTION, THE REMAINDER OF THE SPRING BEING WIDER AND HOUSED IN THE UPPER PART OF THE TUBE WITHOUT THE FOYER, SHOULDERS AT THE JUNCTION OF THE WIDE AND NARROW PARTS OF SAID SPRING ENGAGING THE COMMON WALL TO FULCRUM SAID SPRING AT SAID JUNCTION, AND SAID SPRING REMAINDER HAVING AN END ENGAGING THE TOP CLOSURE WALL TO FLEX SAID SPRING TO MAINTAIN SAID SHOULDERS SUBSTANTIALLY ENGAGED WITH THE COMMON WALL AT THE TOP OF SAID SLOT AT ALL TIMES. 